2026 Best Value Healthcare Schools in South Dakota
Looking for the best-value Healthcare degree programs in South Dakota? Our ranking highlights 27 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search reviewed 10 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Healthcare Degree Schools in South Dakota
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found Lake Area Technical Institute to be the best-value Healthcare school in South Dakota. Lake Area Technical Institute is a public school based in Watertown, SD. Students from in state pay about $6,718 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans. Lake Area Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $45,473 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,674 median debt. Read more about Lake Area Technical Institute
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Technical Institute earned it the #2 place in South Dakota. This public school is set in Sioux Falls, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $7,650. Typical Healthcare student debt is $18,442. Southeast Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $46,709 a decade after entry. Set against $18,442 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Southeast Technical Institute profile
Mount Marty College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Healthcare ranking in South Dakota. This private not-for-profit school is set in Yankton, SD. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Healthcare program here. Mount Marty College alumni report median earnings of $48,179 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%. Read the full report on Mount Marty College
University Of South Dakota came in at #4 on this year's best-value Healthcare ranking in South Dakota. Located in Vermillion, SD, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,322 to complete their Healthcare program here. University Of South Dakota alumni report median earnings of $51,926 a decade after entry. Set against $26,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants. Read more about University Of South Dakota
A rank of #5 makes Mitchell Technical Institute one of the best values in South Dakota. This public school is set in Mitchell, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. Typical Healthcare student debt is $12,730. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Mitchell Technical Institute
South Dakota State University landed the #6 spot for value in South Dakota this year. South Dakota State University is a public school based in Brookings, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Typical Healthcare student debt is $24,989. South Dakota State University alumni report median earnings of $55,070 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants. See the full South Dakota State University profile
Western Dakota Technical Institute ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. This public school is set in Rapid City, SD. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,294. Western Dakota Technical Institute Healthcare students take on a median of $15,620 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,240 ten years after entry. Set against $15,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Western Dakota Technical Institute report
National American University Rapid City offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Rapid City, SD, National American University Rapid City is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,065. Typical Healthcare student debt is $38,264. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,325 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $38,264 median debt. Read the full report on National American University Rapid City
University Of Sioux Falls ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. University Of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit school based in Sioux Falls, SD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,750. The median Healthcare program debt is $26,103. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,521 ten years after entry. Set against $26,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Sioux Falls admits about 83% of applicants. Read more about University Of Sioux Falls
Augustana College South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Sioux Falls, SD, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,160. Augustana College South Dakota Healthcare students take on a median of $26,217 in debt. Augustana College South Dakota alumni report median earnings of $59,217 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Augustana College South Dakota
Institute Of Lutheran Theology landed the #11 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Get the full Institute Of Lutheran Theology report
California Intercontinental University placed #12 among the best-value Healthcare schools in South Dakota. Get the full California Intercontinental University report
Dakota Wesleyan University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. More on Dakota Wesleyan University
Black Hills State University offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Black Hills State University
Sanford Medical Center landed the #15 spot for value in South Dakota this year. Get the full Sanford Medical Center report
Sioux Falls Seminary placed #16 among the best-value Healthcare schools in South Dakota. Read more about Sioux Falls Seminary
Stewart School
Stewart School ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. See the full Stewart School profile
Sinte Gleska University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Sinte Gleska University
Oglala Lakota College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on Oglala Lakota College
Headlines Academy Inc offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Headlines Academy Inc profile
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital placed #21 among the best-value Healthcare schools in South Dakota. See the full Avera Sacred Heart Hospital profile
Black Hills Beauty College placed #22 among the best-value Healthcare schools in South Dakota. See the full Black Hills Beauty College profile
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Sisseton Wahpeton College
Hot Rod Institute placed #25 among the best-value Healthcare schools in South Dakota. Get the full Hot Rod Institute report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Healthcare Degree Schools in South Dakota
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Dakota State University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Dakota State University
Northern State University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. Read the full report on Northern State University
More Healthcare Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Healthcare Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 10 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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